FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2025

A multi-agency prescribed burning operation will take place at multiple locations around Lake Sonoma between June 4-6.

The Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District, CAL FIRE, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District (USACE) will conduct a prescribed burn training at Lake Sonoma, June 4-5. The burn is targeting approximately 80 acres of grass.

Most of the 80 acres will be burned in small areas, generating periods of intermittent smoke. There should be no smoke pooling in low elevations during the nighttime hours.

On Friday, June 6, the students in the prescribed burning class, partnering with CAL FIRE, will burn the Half-A-Canoe Trail area between Rockpile Road and Lake Sonoma. This day will have continuous burning, starting as early as 8 a.m., targeting a total of 288 acres. 

Most of the Half-A-Canoe Trail area is grass, but there are forested areas with the potential to have residual (smoldering) burning during the nighttime hours. Fire officials expect smoke to create a layer over the lake overnight unless there is a nighttime wind to disperse the smoke.

These prescribed burns are planned and coordinated with the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities. All burning depends on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If the conditions, such as weather or vegetation are not conducive for burning, the burns will be rescheduled.